9/19/14
Nathan Abisia
Gilgamesh
Our presentation day for the four scenes of Gilgamesh was refreshing as well as informative. Both the skits acted out as well as Patty Andrews perspective provided a more clear interpretation as to what defined a civilized man within the early stages of civilization itself. Gilgamesh and the transformation of Shamhat from a wild beast into a man brought into perspective of what social constructs were in place when civilization started, and the stark differences that pre- and post- civilization people experienced. Post civilization peoples experienced a much less equal situation based on their sex and wealth. However, the structure that Shamhat followed to become a strong man who uses harlots as methods of transcending the primitive man also taught him the cultural developments that help human beings, such as the development of alcohol. Alcohol assists the progression of mankind in multiple ways, one as being an outlet to the daily struggles, but also as a safe source of hydration where water would often carry serious illnesses. Even within the readings we did, it was easy to see the benefits as well as the cons that come with the idea of authority and rank. Authority allows for a collective conscience to take hold, until power becomes abused. Once power is abused, you see society draw lines between seemingly everything it can. With these lines, groups are pitted against each other, either out of personal benefit for a abusive dictator or out of the safety of a community where a leader ostracizes a dangerous group. These lines are the ones we are trying to slowly erase, including racism and sexism, are remnants of a very long misconception of what it means to be "one of us". Lines that in the eyes of humankind as whole simply do not make sense.